New appointment at the Faculty of Natural Sciences

Professor Markus Pietsch introduced himself together with his colleagues newly appointed in 2023 at the TH Köln New Year's reception in Cologne's Chocolate Museum. In the panel discussion, he provided insights into the subject area of his professorship and his research.

Professor Pietsch studied biochemistry at the University of Leipzig, where he discovered his enthusiasm for pharmaceutical/medical chemistry, which led him to do a doctorate in this field at the University of Bonn. He was particularly fascinated by the link between chemical synthesis and pharmacological interaction studies and their mathematical background. After completing his doctorate and a subsequent stay at the University of Adelaide in Australia, he moved to the Centre for Pharmacology at Cologne University Hospital. There he established his research group in the field of drug-orientated experimental pharmacology, which deals with topics at the interface between biochemistry and pharmacology. Important foundations for his current and future research activities were laid here. During this time, he already held a teaching position at the Leverkusen campus on the Drug Discovery and Development Master's programme for the modules ‘Drug Indications’ and ‘Molecular Pharmacology’.

Professor Pietsch's research interests lie in the development, validation and optimisation of assay methods for investigating disease-relevant enzymes and protein-protein interactions with low-molecular compounds and peptides. The target proteins required for this are often produced recombinantly in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. The screening of substance libraries for biological activity is the basis for further molecular characterisation of the target structure-ligand interaction in order to elucidate structure-activity relationships and further optimise identified ligands. In addition, the effect of synthesised compounds and isolated natural substances on various cell lines will be investigated.

We are delighted to have gained Prof Pietsch as a colleague with a strong research background and expertise. He will strengthen the teaching team at the Leverkusen campus and make a lasting contribution to the faculty's profile in the teaching and research area of drug development.